Common Sports-Related Injuries and How to Treat Them

Although the summer season doesn’t officially begin until June 21, El Pasoans all across town are making the most of the longer, warmer days by spending time outdoors running, hiking, and playing soccer. Although these are all excellent ways to stay in shape and have fun in the extended El Paso summer, they can also lead to injuries. If you sprain your ankle, suffer from heat illness, or injure your knee or shoulder, you should seek assistance from a sports medicine doctor. Sun City Orthopaedic & Hand Surgery Specialists can help.

Ankle, Knee, and Wrist Sprains

Sprains are some of the most common sports-related injuries, often affecting the ankle or knee. A sprain occurs when the ligaments in your ankle or knee stretch or tear. Knee sprains may occur during a pivoting exercises while ankle sprains may occur if you exercise on an uneven surface. Sprains can often be treated with the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) but if you can’t walk more than four steps without experiencing significant pain or you feel pain or numbness anywhere near the injured area, you should visit a sports medicine doctor.

Tennis Elbow Affects More than Just Tennis Players

Tennis elbow is a common and extremely uncomfortable sports injury. Athletes who partake in continuous gripping, or repetitive activities such as playing golf or tennis are at risk of this sports injury. The repetitive action of these sports causes the tendons in your forearm to become inflamed. Any hand or wrist motion becomes incredibly painful. If early treatment such as resting or icing the inflamed area doesn’t suffice, your sports medicine doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medication. Athletes who have suffered from tennis elbow can also benefit from certain stretching techniques and strengthening exercises.

What You Should Know About ACL Tears

The anterior cruciate ligament (or ACL for short) is the most commonly injured knee ligament. Since the ACL connects the thigh bone to the shin bone, individuals who partake in sports that require constant pivoting or single-leg landings are at risk. Basketball, soccer, football, volleyball, and tennis are some examples of sports that can lead to ACL tears. Interestingly enough, female athletes are at higher risk than males for tearing their ACL. Although this is due to anatomy, biomechanics, and hormones, it doesn’t mean that male athletes aren’t at risk for ACL tears. In order to treat an ACL tear, you’ll have to see your sports medicine doctor in order to determine the severity of the tear. Most mild ACL sprains may heal on their own over time, but complete tears may require surgery.